How to Get Hired for Accounting Manager Jobs

The accounting manager in a company plays a vital role in that company. This person is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the company's records and making sure that the company is following all federal and state guidelines and laws. He/she usually works under the direction of a controller. He/she is responsible for the daily supervision of personnel and operations in the general accounting office. He/she manages the monthly billings, ledgers, controls, reconciliations, and financial statements. Additionally, the accounting manager is responsible for a all payables and cash receipts.

The accounting manager has many responsibilities. Depending on the size of the company, this person may be solely responsible for all the accounting work or have a large accounting staff working under him or her.

The job functions of a person in this field may include some or all of the following:

• Complete monthly closing
• Prepare accurate monthly financial statements
• Ensure all payables are accounted for
• Review all account analyses and reconciliations
• Review all general accounting journal entries
• Compile/consolidate a monthly variance analysis
• Prepare journal entries and high-level account analyses
• Review accounting functions for streamlining opportunities
• Implement changes to increase workflow
• Oversee receipt of receivables
• Oversee payment of company's principal and interest on any loans
• Train new employees/supervisors on proper general accounting procedures
• Standardize accounting policies, procedures, and controls

There are certain requirements for any accounting manager position. A bachelor's degree in accounting is always necessary and a CPA qualification is often preferred. Three to five years of experience in public accounting is asked for in most jobs. The ideal candidate also needs solid technical accounting experience. In addition, he or she will have technical and interpersonal skills that are needed to diagnose the root causes of problems and offer solutions. In essence, companies are looking for individuals with exemplary problem-solving abilities.

Effective written and verbal communication skills are also what most companies are looking for in a candidate. Today, many people entering the workforce, even at high-level jobs, cannot write effectively. These companies also want an individual who can communicate, and communicate effectively, with personnel at all levels within the company, as well as with clients outside the company. Teamwork is another essential part of the job, so a person seeking this type of job should be able to work well with others and be able to collaborate to come up with ideas that meet the needs of the firm or company. Lastly, proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint are always a plus when looking for these managerial type jobs.

The account manager is the person who serves as the main contact for clients. He is responsible for keeping the clients satisfied. He must provide ongoing excellent customer service to all accounts with the goal being to form lasting relationships with the clients. To achieve this, the account manager must continuously talk with clients, solve all conflicts, and make sure that the clients' expectations are being met. The larger the company, the more responsibility the account manager has. Top account management jobs can be found in top organizations.

The most common type of account manager is the sales account manager. A college degree and sales experience are a must for this job. The account manager is the person who helps a company grow and retain existing key and strategic accounts. He must also do much or all of the following:

• Proactively get new accounts
• Consistently surpass assigned quota
• Maintain a high level of contact at all levels in a company
• Drive sales processes to close deals
• Create strategic plans for improving sales
• Manage relationships with prospective clients in a territory
• Work with partners
• Make accurate forecasts and report all sales activities

A national account manager will manage sales reps all over the country. He/she is working for a major firm and is the person who coordinates the sales force. He/she is the one who motivates his sales team, offers training, and helps close deals. He/she is the liaison between the sales representative and the firm. He/she is also the person who evaluates and assesses the sales representatives. The larger the firm, the larger the sales team will be and the more people the national account manager has to manage.